Aman Iman: Water Is Life

by Tinariwen

Overview

Hand it to Tinariwen. Like the nomads they are, they don't stand still musically. On their third album (the title translates as Water Is Life), they keep the root intact, the desert blues still at the heart of all they do, but this builds upon what they achieved on their superb sophomore disc, happily restless and unafraid of walking down new paths. However, although they're rightly lauded for their widescreen blues sound, what emerges most here is something they hinted at on the last record -- they're a remarkable rock & roll band, too. The guitars, locked together in rhythm and lead, create a glorious syncopated noise that puts most rockers to shame. But there's a wonderful looseness to the sound (kudos to producer Justin Adams), in part due to the fact that these tracks were all recorded over just two weeks, a tiny time frame by today's standards. Recorded in the Malian capital of Bamako, these songs arrive with dust on their boots and a little thirsty. The studio touches are subtle, a little on the effects here and there, but never detract from the music -- which even features old member Mohammed Ag Itlale, whose voice and guitar can be heard on several tracks. ~ Chris Nickson

Product Details

Release Date:	11/04/2022
Label:	Craft Records
UPC:	0888072419759
Rank:	56797

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Cler Achel
2. Mano Dayak
3. Matadjem Yinmixan
4. Ahimana
5. Soixante Trois
6. Toumast

Disc 2

7. Imidiwan Winakalin
8. Awa Didjen
9. Ikyadarh Dim
10. Tamatant Tilay
11. Assouf
12. Izarharh Tenere

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Tinariwen   Primary Artist
Eyadou Ag Leche   Handclapping,Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background)
Wonou Walet Sidati   Handclapping,Vocals (Background)
Kesa Walet Hamid   Handclapping,Vocals (Background)
Abdallah Ag Alhousseyni   Guitar,Vocals,Handclapping,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Abdallah Ag Lamida "Intidao"   Guitar (Rhythm),Vocals (Background)
Hamid Ekawel   Vocals (Background)
Salah Dawson Miller   Congas,Guellal,Shekere,Darbouka
Alhassane Ag Touhami   Guitar,Vocals,Handclapping,Vocals (Background)
Said Ag Ayad   Djembe,Hi Hat,Calabash,Handclapping,Vocals (Background)
Justin Adams   Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic)
Mohammed Ag Itlale   Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic)
Ibrahim Ag Alhabib   Guitar,Vocals
Elaga Ag Hamid   Handclapping,Guitar (Rhythm),Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Ben Findlay   Audio Engineer,Mixing,Engineer
Justin Adams   Audio Production,Mixing,Producer,Liner Notes
Andy Morgan   Translation,Lyric Translation,Executive Producer
Abdallah Ag Alhousseyni   Composer
Tim Oliver   Mixing,Mastering
Alhassane Ag Touhami   Composer
Thomas Dorn   Photography
Issa Dicko   Translation Assistant
Denis Pean   Translation Assistant
Mohammed Ag Itlale   Composer
Allioum Ba   Photography
Ibrahim Ag Alhabib   Composer
Ibrahim Ag Assarid   Translation,Lyric Translation
Nadia Belalimat   Translation Assistant
Sebastien Merlet   Graphic Design
Ibrahim Coulibaly   Engineer